Vacuum cleaner



July 12 1932. H. J. SMl iDLEY VACUUM CLE-ANER Filed y 1927 2 Sheeis-Sheec l July 12, 1932. H. J. SMIDLEY I ,VAC-UUM CLEANER Fi y 5. 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 alike nth Patented July 12, 1932 ire-Nara. SMIDLEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOISEFST AVA a vacuum Application filed May 5,

-inaccessible with ordinary cleaners may be reached and cleaned with facility, and

whereby carpets and other floor coverings of the most delicate character may be cleaned without injury to their nap; second, to provide novel suction producing means embodying duplex suction fans allowing of the use of suction inlets of great aggregate length and an equalizing of the suction pull throughout, thus inireasing the cleaning capacity of the machine; third, to provide gravity brushes operating in a novel manner to secure an increased range and efiiciency of sweeping action without injury to the surface cleaned; fourth, to provide for the use of a dirt receptacle of increased size and its mounting in such manner as to secure a freer flow of the dust thereto; fifth, to provide means for the connection with'the sweeper of one or two auxiliary cleaning implements or attachments at will; sixth, to provide a folding, extensible and detachable handle of compact type which in normal operative condition will be rigidly fixed tothe casing, allowing the device to be easily manipulated, and which when detached may be used as a cleaning tool or attachment; and, finally, to generally improve and increase the efliciency of cleaners of this character.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement CLEANER 1927. Serial No. 188,894.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fi re 2.

Fi re 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 2. 'giFigure 6 is a view of the bag attaching p ate.

Figure 7 is a sectional View illustrating the manner in which the coupler of a cleaning tool or. attachment may be connected with one or the other of the suction fan chambers.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the handle clip. In the practical embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,1Iprovide a suction head 1 of substantially V-form in plan and comprising independent branches or portions 2 and 3 having rear extensions 4 and 5,

the said branches or portions 2-and 3 extending forwardly in converging relation and at substantially oblique angles to the portions 4 and 5, which latter extend at an upward and rearward inclination and are arranged in parallel relation to each other. The branches 2 and 3 are united at their forward ends to form an apex point at the front of the head and each branch comprises a top wall 6 and front and rear walls 7 and 8, forming a suction channel of comparatively narrow width, each channel being open at its bottom, as shown. The lower edge of the rear wall 8,

COPY

as clearly illustrated in Figure 5, terminates 1' at afhigher level than the lower edge of the front wall and arranged along the rear side of the wall 8 is a chamber 9 whose front wall is formed by part of the wall 8 and which is completed by a rear wall 9 and a top wall 9*, the walls 8 and 9 being provided at their lower edges with flanges 10 forming a restricted slot at the base of said chamber 9.

This chamber receives and embraces the head of a sweeping brush 11, the brush bristles of which project downwardly through the said slot and through the open base of a rear- Wardly ofi'set portion of the suction channel with which said slot communicates, for enagement of the lower edges of the brush ristles with a floor. carpet or other surface I or abutment for the brush bristles to stiffen tical line. In practice the brush head is made of suflicient weight to maintain the bristles by gravity in'contact with the carpet or other surface with a working pressure sufliciently great to secure an effective brushing action but not sufficiently great to cause injury to the nap'of a delicate carpet. The wall 9 is provided with a depending wall portion 12 which closes the offset portion of the suction channel at the rear and forms a backing them to a certain degree and to prevent them from being forced backward to too great a degree in a sweeping action. By this mode of uniting the brushes weighted or gravity depressed brushes may be employed with great advantage over spring pressed brushes,

which as subject to undesirable variations of pressure and frequently to excessive pressures, causing injury to delicate carpets. By forming each suction channel with a rearwardly offset portion and disposing the coacting brush so that the brush bristles depend into and operate within theoffset portion, the bristles act to push the dirt forwardly into the channel and toward the front wall thereof, so that the dirt will be sucked up in a rapid manner and with the least resistance under the suction pull. This action is promoted by reason of the fact that the wall 12 prevents the brush bristles from curling backward, thus keeping the bristles in the most eflicient Workin contact with the fioor or other surface and t us avoiding the escape of dirt beneath the bristles and ensuring the forward sweeping of all the brushed dirt into the suction channel. Furthermore, as the brush bristles lie in rear. of the suction channel the forward suction pull upon them, in opposition to their tendency to rearward deflection due to the sweeping force, not only tends to produce a gentle back and forth vibratory motion thereof so as to free the dirt caught between, but the suction pull itself acts to draw the dirt from between the bristles and into the channel before the dirt can pack itself in the bristles, whereby the bristles are kept clean and in the best working condition for a free sweeping action at all times.

A partition 13 separates the suction channels and brush chambers at their forward ends, and forms a stop against which the inner or forward ends of the applied brushes 11 abut. It will be observed from the foregoing that the front branches 2 and 3 form a V-shaped suction head portion having independent suction channels and brush chambers in its respective branches, which converge to a point at their forward ends and level than the suction channels and terminate at their rear ends in cylindrical suction chambers 14. Each extension 4 and 5 has its bottom wall 14 arranged to overhang the outer end of the adjacent brush chamber 9, which end of said brush chamber is open and lies beneath the forward portion of said wall 14, so as to be readily accessible from the adjacent sideof the suction head. Through these open outer ends of the brush chambers 9 thebrushes 11 may be slidably introduced foruse and withdrawn for cleaning when desired, or to enable new brushes to be substituted for worn out or damaged brushes. is provided at the outer end of each brush chamber for movement into or out of the path of the brush, whereby the confined brush will be held in working position and against displacement, but may be removed upon retractionof the fastener whenever desired.

Disposed in the space between the channel branch extensions 4 and 5 is a housing comprising a motor casing 16 and a pair of fan casings or chambers 17, said fan chambers A suitable closure or fastener 15" or casings being arranged between the motor casing and the respective channel extensions 4 and 5. An electric motor 18 is enclosed in the motor chamber 16 and its shaft 19 is journaled in the side walls of said casing and extends therethrough into the fan chambers 17 and has secured thereto rotary ZlI .suction chamber 14 with one of the suction channels 2 or 3 via the connecting channel extension 14'. In the operation of the motor, therefore, the fans will be drivento create a partial vacuum in the respective suction lines formed by the branches 2 and 3,.

their extensions 4 and 5, the suction .chambers 14 and the fan chambers 17 on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the cleaner, thus taking up the dust loosened by the action of the brushes, which dust falls rearwardly through the suction channels into the .i Z

suction chambers and thence into the fan chambers preparatory to discharge. Owing to the described construction of the branches 2 and 3, making the suction channels of restricted width, a greatly intensified suction action is produced, whereby great efliciency of action is secured. By providing suction channels of restricted width in suction head portions, such as the branches 2 and 3,, which lie at forwardly converging angles, the aggregate length of the suction channel is increased, and by arranging the brush members along these channels, as disclosed, the brushing area is alsoincreased, that is to say, these portions will operate more efficiently and over a greater extent of floor or carpet surface at a time, without the necessity of making the apparatus clumsy or of excessive size or weight. g

The fan chambers 17 are provided at their rear portions with dust discharge outlets 21' which project rearwardly through an abutment plate 22, whereby the projecting portions of said outlets are connected and braced. The outlets 21 are of cylindrical or other suitable form at their extremities and are adapted to engage cylindrical openings 23 in the opposite ends of an elliptical head or coupling plate 24 having an elliptical flange 25 to which the marginal edge of the mouth portion of a dust receiving bag or receptacle 26 is suitably secured. The plate 24 is provided at its ends with notched portions 27 adapted to receive the stems of swinging latch members 28 hinged or pivoted at one end to the plate 22, as indicated at 29. Each of these latch members is provided at its free end with a manipulating head '30a1id has slidably.

fitted thereon a clamping head or bolt 31 provided with a conical end portion adapted to engage in the notch 27, a spring 32 on "the latch member serving to' urge said locking head or bolt into locking position.- When the plate 24 is applied it rests againstthe abutment plate 22 and may be locked in position by swingingthepivoted locking members from the retracted position shown at the left hand end of Figure 4 to the lockingposition shown at the right hand end of Figure 4, thus securingthe bag holding' plate and the plate in position. By this construction of the double discharge outlets 21 and mode to the bag is ensured, while the described construction of bag fastening means adapts the bag to be disconnected by simply swinging back the fasteners 28 to retracted position, whereupon the bag may be quickly emptied through the openings 23. The outer or closed end of the bag may be supported from the handle of the cleaner, hereinafter described,

in the ordinary or anyother suitable way.

The described construction and arrangement of the suction chambers 14 eachof posite sides of the suction sweeper.

wheel 34 may be carried by a bracket 36 pivwhich is in direct lateral communication with a fan chamber 17, adapts the cleaner for use as a. suction cleaner in conjunction with attachments which may be applied at each or both sides of the cleaner. To this end, each suction chamber 14 is provided in its outer side with an opening 33 normally closed by a hinged cover plate 34, which may be swung to an open position to uncover said opening 33 so as to permit of the insertion adapted to pass through notches or recesses 39 in the marginal wall of the opening 33 and to engage a cam surface 40 on the innerface of the outer: wallof the chamber 14,

whereby by rotating the head 35 in one direction such head may be locked in applied position, while by rotating it in the reserve direction it may be released for withdrawal. When the head is locked in position it is held in fluid-tight sealing contact with the flange 22 and directly connects the cleaning tool or attachment 36 with the associated fan chamber 17, so that the suction of the fan may be directly used in the application of the device 36 for cleaning purposes. In this manner a suction cleaner or attachment may be applied at either or both sides of thesuction sweeper, so that walls, ceilings, curtalns or other hangings, furniture upholstery and the like, located at a greater or less distance from the suction sweeper, may be easily and a conveniently cleaned. As the arrangement described allows two such cleaning attachments to be employed at a time, great convenience is afforded in the use of the suction sweeper in hotels, apartment houses, or large households where a great deal of-this work is carried on in addition to floor and carpet cleaning operations.

The suction sweeper may movement in any desired manner. In the present instance I have shown the use of a front supporting wheel or roller 34 and a pair of rear supporting wheels or rollers 35, the former being arranged in the space between and adjacent to the forward ends of the channel branches 2 and 3, and the latter benea h the suction chambers 14 at the opotally mounted upon a rod 37 extending between and fixed in the sides of the fan chamber 17 and provided with springs 38 exerting pressure on the bracket 36 to hold the wheel,

be supported for.

The

branches of the suction head provide suction channels of maximum cleaning length, as well as a form of the suction head which adapts it for use in cleaning corners and other ordinarily inaccessible portions of a floor with great ease and facility. Also that by the dual construction of the suction head, having a pair of independent suction channels, and the provision of a separate suction device for each channel, the channels being of restricted width, a suction cleaner of great suction strength is produced. By the provision of the separate fan chambers and coacting suction chambers at opposite sides of the cleaner, a single auxiliary cleaning attachment may be 'used at either side of the cleaner, or two auxiliary cleaning attach ments simultaneously used at opposite sides of the cleaner, for upholstery cleaning and other purposes, rendering the device of maximum efliciency and convenience in the cleaning of the walls, hangings or furniture upholstery work of different portions of a corridor or of a room or different rooms at one and the same time. Other advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those versed in the art without a further and extended description.

The cleaner is adapted tobe pushed or pulled by an expansible and collapsible and folding handle of novel construction. This handle comprises main and manipulating sections 40 and 41, the section 40 comprising a pair of spaced bars carried at their inner ends by a yoke 42, the ends of which the pivotally connected, as at 43, to the rear'of the housing to adapt the handle to be raised and lowered when required. The bars 40 are provided with longitudinal slots 44 receiving the ends of a fastening screw 45 passing through the handle section 41 adjacent to one end 46 thereof, said screw 45 being provided with a clamping nut 47 whereby the handle section 40 and 41 may be clamped in adjusted relationship. The opposite end 48 of the handle section 41 is adapted, in a folded position of the handle, to be engaged with a suitable clip or fastening member 49 on the motor housing, whereby the handle will be secured .in a folded position. This folded position ofthe handle is shown in Figure 1, from which it will be seen that the section 40 of the handle may be held in an upwardly and rearwardlyinclined position by tightening 41 is engaged and held by the clip 49, thus providing a shortened handle rigidly held in connection with the housing in such man ner as to allow this shortened handle to be used for manipulating the cleaner in confined spaces. By releasing the end 48 'of the handle section 41 from the clip 49, said handle section 41 may be swung backwardly to bring its'end 46 between the bars of handle section 40, andto dispose the end 48 of the handle section 41 at the rear, whereupon the section 41 may be disposed in a'position between and parallel with the side bars of the handle section 40 and adjusted longitudinally in the space between said bars, so that the handle sections 40 and 41 may be relatively adjusted to conjointly provide a handle which is extensible and contractibl'e and may be made of any desired working length. When the handle is usedin such a free position, i. .e. disconnected from the clip 49, it may be tilted vertically on the pivots43 to any working angle and the section 41 held rigid with the section 40 by tightening the clamping screw 47. A handle which is either short and compact or of great length may, therefore, be formed for greater convenience in manipulating the cleaner under different conditions of service.

the nut 47, with the end 46 of the handle Having thus fully described my invention, v

2. In a suction cleaner, a suction head forming branches arranged in V-formation and forming suction channels, a partition-at the apex of the branches and between said chan nels, brushes extending alongside the channels in parallel relation therewith, and suction devices communicating with the respective channels.

' 3. In a suction cleaner, a suction head having a pair of channels, suction fan chambers communicating with said channels and having discharge outlets, an abutment plate through whichsaid outlets extend, a receptacle, a closure plate to which the receptacle is secured at its inlet end, said plate having openings to receiveand adapt it to be fitted upon said outlets and to rest against said abutment plate, and fastening. means on the abutment plate for engagement with the cloand an outlet at its top, and each channel being provided at its rear with an offset portion and a brush head receiving chamber overlying the same, a brush comprising a head disposed in each brush head receiving chamber-and carrying bristles projecting from said chamber into the underlying suction channel offset, and suction producing means communicating with the outlets of the suction channels.

5. In a suction cleaner, a suction head provided with a suction channel open along its bottom and having an outlet at its top, a brush chamber at the rear of and extending parallel with the suction channel and having a longitudinally slotted bottom, the channel being provided with an offset portion lying beneath the slotted base of the chamber and including a rear wall extending along the chamber substantially in the plane of the rear wall thereof, a brush comprisinga head loosely fitted so as to be freely movable upwardly and downwardly in the chamber :1 ml carrying brush bristles projecting through the slotted bottom of the chamber in the oil set portion of the channel for contact wit a floor or other surface and bearing again' and limited in rearward deflection by the said rear wall of the offset portion of the channel, and suction producing means commllmicating with the top outlet of the channe 6. In a suction cleaner, a suction head provided with a suction channel of greater length than width open along its bottom and having an outlet at its top, a brush chamber at the rear of and extending parallel with the channel and having a longitudinally slotted bottom and an end opening to the exterior through one side of the head, the channel being provided with an offset portion extending beneath the slotted bottom of the chamber and including a rear wall arranged in rear of the channel and extending below the bottom of the chamber substantially in the plane of the rear wall thereof, a brush comprising a head loosely fitted so as to be freely movable upwardly and downwardly in the chamber and carrying bristles projecting downwardly through the slotted bottom of the chamber and into the offset portion of' the channel and bearing against and limited in rearward deflection by the said rear wall of the offset portion of the channel, said brush being longitudinally slidable into and out of the channel. via the exteriorly arranged open end thereof, and suction producing means communicating with the top outlet of. the channel.

7. In afsuetion cleaner, a suction head provided with a suction channel of greater length than width open along its bottom and having an outlet at its top, a brush chamber at the rear of and extending parallel with the channel and having a longitudinally slotted bottom, the channel being provided with an offset portion lying below the said slottedbottom of the chamber and with which the latter communicates, and a brush comprising a head loosely fitted in said chamber and bristles projecting therefrom downwardly through the open base of the chamber .into the offset portion of the channel, the brush head being freely movable upwardly and downwardly in the chamber and the brush being of such Weight as to adapt the same to have upward movement bodily under upward pressure on the bristles and downward movement bodily by gravity, and said offset portion of the channel including a rear wall arranged to be engaged by and to reinforce the brush bristles against undue rearward deflection in their brushing action.

. 8. In a suction cleaner, a suction head pro vided with a pair of oblong and narrow suction channels arranged at .an angle to each other and extending forwardly in converging relation,each channel having an inlet at its base and an outlet at its top, brush guiding means at the rear of each channel, a brush extending longitudinally at the rear of each channel parallel therewith and freely slidable upwardly and downwardly in the guiding means, the guiding means being provided with abutments engaging the brushes to limit downward movement of the brushes, and suction producing means communicating with the outlets of the suction channels.

9. In a suction cleaner, a suction head provided with a pair of oblong and narrow suction channels arranged at an angle to each other and extending forwardly in converging relation, each channel having an inlet at its base and an outlet at its top, brush guiding means at the rear of each channel, a brush extending longitudinally at the rear of each channel parallel therewith and having a head loosely engaged in the guiding mcansto move to cause said bristles to push the dirt for wardly into the suction channel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY J. SMIDLEY. 

